Typewriting machine



Nov; 9 1926;

. G. K. BLOCK TYPEWRITING mcnnm 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. .29, 1926 A TT ORNE Y Nov. 9 1926. 1 1,606,337"

c5. BLOCK TYPEWRITI NG MACHINE Filed Jan. 29'. 1926 4 Sh eets-Sheet 2 GREGORY K BL OCK IN VEN TOR gvAA a. MM.

ATTORNEY Nov. v9 1926. 1,606,337 j G. K. BLOCK TYPEWRITING mourns Filed Jan, 29, 1926 Y 4 Sheets- She et 5 GREGORY K 3400K IN YEN TOR BY 9 M ATTORNEY G. K. BLOCK TYPEWRITING MACHINE Fi led Jan. 29, 1926 4 Sheets-Shegt 4 IN VE N TOR BY y wan w A TTORNE Y Patent Nov. 1926.

GREGORY K. BLOCK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

TYPEWBI'IING MACHINE.

Application filed January 29, 1926, Serial No. 84,603, and in Russia December 24, 1924.

My invention relates to typewriting machines and has a particular reference to type action mechanisms for such machines.

The object of my invention is to provide a mechanism as above indicated in which the striking force of a type bar is derived from a source of mechanical energy, and the operators fingers are required only to produce a comparatively light pressure in order to release such mechanical energy for action.

For this purpose I utilize the stored energy of a coiled spring which in ordinaiiy typewriters is used to move the carriage. t

is easy to see that by making thls sprlng 5 slightly stronger it would be possible to use its energy for some other workin addition to propelling the carriage. A slightly greater effort required to reset the carriage cannot be considered as a disadvantage in view of the fact that it is done with the arm and shoulder muscles, ordinarily accustomed to such efforts. Or, even, a'special electric motor may be used for this purpose. In my mechanism I utilize this energy to force a type bar, after it has been operated, back into its inoperative position in which it is automatically locked, against the tension of a spring which tends toswing the typebar into an operating position against the paper drum. Each type bar is provided with an individual spring which is normally compressed with the type bar locked in an inoperative position. And with each step of the carriage movement an additional amount of energy is released for compressing one of such springs when it has been released for operating the corresponding type bar.

My type bar mechanism is more fully described in the accompanying specification and drawing in which- Fig. l is a sectional elevation of my mechanism showing parts in an inoperative position, set for action. The parts are also shown in an operating position (with dotted lines). The other parts of a typewriter, not directly connected with this mechanism, are not shown. 1

Fi 2 is a sectional elevation of a ratchet whee on an enlarged scale. 1

Fig. 3 is a section of a ratchet mechanism taken on the line 3-3-(Fig. 4) showing also in dotted lines the operating position; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the ratchet wheel and ratchet mechanism; Fig. 5 is a sectional view of same taken on the line 5-5 (Fig. 4);

Fig. 6 is a partial front view; Fig. 7 is an.

elevation of a modified arrangement; Fig. 8 is a detailed view of a bar resetting arm; Fig. 9 is another modified arrangement of my type bar mechanism; Fig. 10 is a detailed view of same in an operating position; Fig. 11 is a detailed view of a modified mechanism for regulating the tension of type bar springs.

My typewriting machine consists of a type bar segment 1 (Figs. 1 and 6) attached with screws 2 to a frame 3 (Fig. 6) of the machine. The segment is provided with slots 4 for type bars 5. The latter are pivotally mounted on a steel wire 6, placed in slots 7 and bent to conform with the circular shape of the segment 1.

The type bar 5 has a lug 8 at its base. to which an operating link 9 is pivoted. A spiral spring 10 is loosely wound around the link and is attached with oneend to the bar 5 at the point 11. The other end of this spring is attached at the point 12 to a stationary member 13. The spring is placed under tension and tends to swing the bar 5 around its pivoting point into an operating 7 osition as indicated with dotted ines' in ig. 1, with the type 14: strikin against the paper drum 15. The force 0 this action may be regulated for instance,'for difierent number of copies) y shifting the member 13 in its place longitudinally, locking in each position by means of a pawl '16 on a fiat spring 17, engaging one of the notches 18 on the member 13. i.

When the type bar 5 is brought forcefully into a horizontal (ino erative) position the operating link 9 catches with its toot or projection 19 the edge of a guiding bar 20, thereby locking the bar in the inoperative position. The spring 10 exerts also a downward pull and keeps the teeth 19 in engagement with the bar 20.

The link 9 is engaged by a forked end 21 of a vertical releasing link 22 which is pivotally connected with a key bar or lever 23. The key bar is pivoted at the point 24. Its travel is much smaller than in ordinary typewriting machines, as its function is only to release the link 9 from engagement with the guiding bar 20. The latter is provided with slots 25 for the links 9.

The type bar 5 has a cam shaped lug 26 at the base. This log normally rests against a plate 27 with arms 28. These arms are hinged at points 29 to vertical lugs 30 attached to a ratchet member 31 which is pivotally mounted on stationary portions of the machine (these portions are not shown) by means of pins 32. The ratchet member 31 with its lugs 30 can swing like a pendulum in a vertical plane. The operatlng position is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. This mechanism is also shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5.

The ratchet member partly encircles a ratchet wheel 33 mounted on a vertical shaft 34 and connected with a powerful spiral spring, tending to rotate the wheel in a direction of an arrow A. The shaft 34 is also connected with a mechanism for moving the carriage (not shown).

The ratchet member has two lugs. The left lug (Fig. 4) is placed above the wheel 33 allowing the same to rotate. The right lug is provided with a vertical extension 35 supporting a pawl 36. This pawl is pivotally mounted on a screw 37 and with its end 38 is adapted to engage sharp beveled teeth of the ratchet wheel 33. The pawl rests with its back side against an eXcentric '39 attached with a-screw 40. By placing this excentric in different positions, the operating position of the pawl may beadjusted.

The pawl has a flat side at the base 41 engaged by a flat spring 42 attached to a lug 43 with a screw 441 This spring tends to swing the pawl in a position indicated in Fig. 5 with dotted lines.

The left side of the ratchet member 31 has a tooth 45 shaped at an angle corresponding to the angle of the teeth 46 of the ratchet wheel 33.

The operation of my mechanism is as follows.

When the desired key bar 23 is depressed, the releasing link 22 is pushed upwards, pushing with it the operating link 9. As soon as the projection 19 is raised above the edge of the slot 25, the link 9 will slide forward to a position indicated with dotted lines, under tension of the spring 10.

The spring will pull with it the lug 8 of the type bar 5 turning it around the pivoting point 6, until it takes the vertical position indicated'with dotted lines (Fig. 1), striking the paper drum 15.

The cam shaped extension 26, sliding over the surface of the plate 27, pushes it away from the segment 1, and swings down the pendulum-ratchet mechanism 31 by moving the lugs 30.

lVith the ratchet member 31 depressed the pawl 38 becomes disengaged from the tooth 46 and, under action of the spring 42, passes under the tooth 46 to a position indicated with dotted lines. At the same time the wheel 33, under action of the main spring (not shown) or some other motive power, being freed from the ratchet or movable tooth 38, turns away from the tooth face of the tooth 45. Accordingly the tooth 46, under pressure from the main spring forces the tooth 45 and the ratchet member 31 up until it can pass under it. The rotation of the wheel continues until the tooth 46 meets the movable pawl 38 and stops with the pawl 38 pressed against the excentrio 3!). The wheel 33 has now traveled a distance equal to the space between two consecutive teeth 46.

The ratchet member 31, being raised to its upper or inoperative position, swings the lugs 30 and moves the plate 27, forcing the type bar 5 back into its inoperative position. The link 9 is pulled back until the lug 19 catches the lower edge of the slot 25, being pulled down by the spring 10.

The whole mechanism has now been brought back to its original or inoperative position, the only difference being that the ratchet wheel 33 has moved one step. This wheel is connected with a pinion (not shown) operating a rack of the carriage (not shown) supporting the paper drum 15.

lVhen the carriage has traveled full distance it is brought back in an ordinary manner, winding again the main or operating spring. This spring in my mechanism must be stronger than in ordinary typewriting machines by the amount necessary to overcome the tension of one spring 10. This difference is not very large, however, as the spring 10 does not need to be very strong, and an ordinary operator hardly can notice this difference. .1

It is also possible to operate the ratchet wheel by means of a s ecial electric'motor, or to use such motor or resetting the carriage and rewinding the sprin Or the spring may be rewound indepen ently from the carriage action.

The teeth 46 are also provided with tapering surfaces underneath in order to facilitate the passing of the pawl 38.

A special spring 47 is employed to retrieve the key bar 23 after it has been operated.

The spring 10, in addition to operating the type bar 5, also pulls the link 9 down,

its end 12 being placed at an angle. A separatespring may be employed, however, to bring the link down.

The tension of this spring 10 may be adjusted for a desired number of copies by changing the position of-a member 13. This member which may be in the form of a link or frame, supporting all springs of the typewriting machine, is placed in a slot in a plate 48 which also serves as a guide for the link 22. The member 13 is provided with catches 18 engaged by a tooth 16 under pressure from the spring 17, The tooth 16 may be pulled away from the member 13 which car then be moved to a new position.

A modified arrangement is shown in Filgl. 11.

are a special guiding plate 49 is used for the links 22. The ends of the springs 10 are attached to a sliding plate 50 with notches 51. These notches are engaged by a pawl 52 swinging on a pivot 53 and being pressed against the plate by a spring 54.

A modified type bar action mechanism is shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Here a type bar 58 is provided witha lug 59 having a semispherical r. cess 60 for the end 61 of an operating link or rod 62. This rod is passing through an aperture 63 in a guiding plate 64.

The other end of the rod 62 is pivoted to a pivot 65 on a rocking arm 66 mounted on a pin 67. i

The upper end of the arm 66 has an enlarged portion with a diagonal slot 68 and a recess 69. The slot and the recess are made to fit teeth 70 of a star wheel 71. A coil spring (not shown) in a spring cage 72 is connected with the shaft 73 supporting the wheel .71 and tends to turn the wheel in a direction of an arrow D.

In an inoperative position one of the teeth 70 is located in the slot 69, and the wall 74 prevents the wheel from turning.

The operation of this device is as follows.

When the key bar 23 is depressed and the link 22 raised, ,the notch 19 becomes disengaged from the wall of the plate 20, so that the link 9 slides into the slot 25 under action of the spring 10. This spring, contracting,

pulls the lug 75 andswings the type bar 58 against the paper drum 15.

At the same time the lug 59 will push the rod 62, moving the rocking arm 66 into a position shown with dotted lines.

With this movement the-wall 74 releases the tooth 70, thereby allowing the star wheel 71 to'rotate until the next tooth 70 comes opposite the front end of the slot 68 and enters same.

Under tension of the main spring the tooth will move in the slot 68, forcing the arm 66 back into its original position, and with it pushing the type bar 58 into the inoperative position, until the notch 19 becomes locked behind the plate 20.

Another modification is shown in Figs. 9' and 10. Here the operating rod 76 is placed in front of the fulcrum 24 of the key bar 23. The upper end of the rod has an eye through which eely slides arod 77 pivoted at one end to a lug 78 of a key bar 79, and provided with a hook 80 on the other end. The rod 76 slides in an aperture 81 in aguiding plate 82.

Directly under the hook 80 a slot 83 is 10- cated formed between lugs 84 and 85 on an operating bar 86. The other end of this bar is pivoted by a pivot 87 to a rocking arm 88 mounted on a pin 89.

The upper end of the arm 88 is provided with a. round extension which fits in a groove 90 of a drum 91. The drum is mounted'on a shaft 92 connected with a spring(not shown) placed in a cage 93.

The operation of this device is as follows. When the key bar 23 is depressed, the rod with an eye 9i pulls down the rod 77 The hook 80 enters the slot 83 and depresses the bar 86, until its lug 85 clears the stationary bar 95. The arm 88 becomes free to move to the left, following the curvature of the slot 90, under pressure from the main spring.

The movement continues until the pin 99 reaches the apex 100 of the curved slot 90. In this position the type bar 79 is raised to a vertical (operating) position, as shown with dotted lines, striking the paper drum 15.

Immediately after that, however, the arm 88 is brought back to its original position by following the slot 90. The tapered back side of the lug 85, upon striking similarly tapered back side of the plate 95, becomes deflectcd down and passes on the other side of the plate. In this position it is pushed up by the action of a flat spring 97, attached to the plate 82 with a screw 98. A catch 96 limits the upward movement of the lug 85.

One drum 91 and one arm 88 operate all the bars 86 with rods 77 and 76 and type bars 79.

It is, evident that if the key bar is kept depressed, then the correspondingtype bar will continue to operate, striking the same character until the carriage completes its travel, or until the key bar is released. This applies 'to all of the modifications of my mechanism described and illustrated.

This feature represents an important ad vantage of my typewriter because it permits to draw a line, for instance, or write two or more letters or figures with but one finger movement, thereby conserving the operators energy.

The greatest energy conservation results, however, in application of a mechanical power for operating the type bars, the work of the fingers being required only to release this power. The length of the stroke of key bars is thereby reduced in addition to greatly reducing'the force of pressure required from the fingers. The energyis reduced by about 80 to 90% in comparison with ordinary typewriting machines.

With this saving of the writers energy the speed of the writing may be increased by up to 100%.

Another important advantage is that all the characters are written with perfectly uniform force, so that the writing becomes very even. The force of the impressions can be regulated for the whole keyboard, for instance, in adjusting for different number of co ies.

claim as my invention:

1. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a type bar, a pivot supporting one end of said type bar, a spring adapted to swing said type bar to an operative position against the paper drum, a lug on said type bar near its pivoting point and at an angle with the main body of said type bar, an intermediate member adapted to be pushed by saidlug when said type bar is in operating position, a wheel, a source of power for rotation of said wheel, means to lock said wheel, means to release said locking means adapted to beoperated by said intermediate member, means to move back said intermediate member by the rotation of said wheel thereby swinging saidtype bar into inoperative position, means to lock said type bar in said inoperative position, and a key bar adapted to release said locking means when pressed by the operators finger.

2. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a plurality of type bars, each of said type bars being pivotally mounted on a wire, a lug on said type bar near said pivoting wire, a rod pivotally connected with said lug, a guiding board with an aperture for said rod, a catch on said rod adapted to engage the inner edge of said guiding board thereby retainingsaid type bar in an inoperative position, a spring attached with one end to said lug, a stationary member adapted to support the other end of said spring, said spring being adapted to swing said type bar into an operative position against the paper drum, when said rod is disengaged from said guiding board, a key bar, and an operating link between said key bar and said rod, one end of said link being pivoted to said key bar, and the other end being operatively connected with said rod, said key bar with its link being adapted to release said catch from said guiding. board thereby releasing said type bar for action, and means to return said type barinto inoperative position.

Ina typewriting machine, the combination with a type bar of a pivot supporting one end of said bar, a means to swing sai type bar to an operating position against the paper drain, a lug on said type bar near its pivoting point, an intermediate member adapted to be pushed by said lug when said type bar is in operating position, a wheel, a source of power for rotation of said wheel, means to lock said wheel, means to release said locking means adapted to be operated by said intermediatemember, means to move back said intermediate member by the rotation of said wheel thereby swinging said type bar into inoperative position, means to look said type' bar insaid inoperative position, and a key bar adapted to release said locking means when pressed by the operators finger. y y

. Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York Jan.

GREGORY K. BLOCK. 

